Water cannot be released as and when TN demands: Siddaramaiah

‘We have enough stock of agricultural inputs’

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said the Karnataka government cannot release Cauvery waters whenever Tamil Nadu asks.

“We never said we won’t release Cauvery waters to Tamil Nadu. We have released water even when we were facing difficulties. If they [Tamil Nadu government] ask water when we ourselves don’t have, we cannot release. We will release this month’s share next month. Karnataka is receiving good rain and I hope we won’t face any problem in releasing Cauvery waters to Tamil Nadu,” he told reporters at Sindhanur helipad.

Mr. Siddaramaiah was in Sindhanur, 100 km from Raichur, to attend the wedding of Chanana Basavana Gowda, the son of Sindhanur MLA Hampana Gowda Badarli.

“We are happy that the State is receiving good rain. Agricultural activities have commenced across the State. We have enough stock of agricultural inputs, including sowing seeds and fertilizer,” he said.

When asked about promises made in the Congress election manifesto, the Chief Minister said every promise made in the manifesto would be met. “We are going to present our budget in July second week. This budget will reflect all the promises we made in our manifesto,” he said.

‘Be prepared’

During his first visit to Raichur district after becoming Chief Minister, Mr. Siddaramaiah met high-level officers and instructed them to be prepared to face any threat of floods. He promised to get the OPEC hospital in Raichur city reopened.